Pastor’s Message

REFLECTION ON THE READINGS

“Viva Cristo Rey!” – “Long Live Christ the King” were the last words uttered by Blessed Miguel Pro before he was executed for being a Catholic priest and serving his people.

In the 1920s, severe religious persecution ravaged Mexico. The Catholic Church was outlawed and thousands upon thousands of priests, religious brothers, and sisters, and lay faithful were killed. In response to the systematic persecution of the Church by the government, many faithful men and women rebelled in what is known as the Cristero War.

Fr. Pro served as a priest in a Church forced to go “underground” where he celebrated the Eucharist clandestinely and ministered the other sacra- ments to small groups of Catholics in the shadows.

In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, he also carried out the works of mercy by assisting the poor in Mexico City with their temporal needs. He adopted many interesting disguises in carrying out his secret ministry.

On November 23, 1927, Fr. Pro was sentenced to face a firing squad. Fr. Pro forgave his executioners, prayed, bravely refused the blindfold, and died proclaiming, “Viva Cristo Rey!”, “Long live Christ the King!”

As we conclude the Church’s liturgical year and celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we are encouraged to proclaim in our lives “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long Live Christ the King!”

The kings of history – in countless instances – cared very little about those subjected to them. The poor, especially, were insignificant pawns in the game of thrones. Jesus, however, who is both God and man, divine and human, is a King not like so many other kings that we have learned about.

Jesus shows us that every person matters.

Today’s readings show us that every person matters to God.

You, me, the rich, the poor, those in prison, those on main street, those in the cities, those on the farms, the young and the old – everyone matters. BUT DO OTHERS MATTER TO ME?

Quote of the Week